Glutathione conjugates of misonidazole.

The hydroxylamine derivative of misonidazole reacts with glutathione under physiological conditions to form two isomeric conjugates. Based on physical and chemical properties, the two conjugates have been identified as 1-[2-amino-(4-glutathion-S-yl)-1-imidazolyl]-3-methoxypropanol and 1-[2-amino-(5-glutathion-S-yl)-1-imidazolyl]-3-methoxypropanol. The formation of the glutathione conjugates of reduced misonidazole offers a molecular mechanism for the depletion of GSH in mammalian cells after exposure to misonidazole under hypoxic conditions.